Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-05-19
AT THE STEWART PICTURE SALE.
What n Dear Old Dowager SAid-An Art

What n Dear Old Dowager Said-An Art
ist's Reputation.
A Mrs Shoddy was discoursing the other
evening upon the sale Of the Stewart pict1res
in New York
"Ithought of going on" she said, ito buy
some of the paintings, but really have more
pictures than / know what to do with. OF
course there were fine things in the Stewart
sale, but my own paintings, l may say, are
really metriciOus-at least bought them as
such-and so concluded not to compete with
New York collectors"
The dear old dowager would be astonished
if she knew how true her remark was, little
as she understood the true significance of her
epithet A good story is told Of the way in
which she bought some Of her "meritricious'
pictures. Several years ago she went abroad,
and took with her a specimen OF the paper Of
her drawing room, in order that she might
buy pictures to harmonize-or as she said to
match An American artist in Paris wrote
home an account of her visit to the studio of
q French artist of distinction The lady ar
rived one morning by appointment, armed
with her specimen Of wall paper and stated
that the architect Of her house had told her to
purchase a picture of a givel size for GER
tain space in her drawing room. The artist
had no picture of these dimensions, but he
was clever enough TO understand the sort Of
woman he was dealing with and INSCRIPTIONS
enough to take advantage of her.
"This canvas" he said, showing her paint
ing he wished to sell, isn't the same measure
you want, because we have the metric sys-
tenn in France, and Of course that is different;
but it is the measure translated into our sys-
tenn; it is the nearest thing you can get in
this country"
The picture was half as large again as she
had asked for, but she received this explana-
ton in perfect good faith and proceeded to
investigate the harmony of paper and picture.
The obhging painter arranged the wall paper
behind the canvas, walked away from the
easel and clasped his hands in admiration:
"Ah, madame y he said, with a dramatic
sigh, you Americans are such nation!
have searched Paris for proper background
for this picture and have not been able to find
it; and here you bring me precisely the paper
of which l have dreamed. If l had that
paper l would not sell you the picture at all,
but now you must have it if give it to you!"
And he did give it to her-in exchange for
$1,000
At another studio she was less successful.
She had been told whose pictures she ought
to buy, and applied boldly to the leading
painters of Paris. The second artist whom
sac saw, however, treated her with what she
feelingly describes outrageous brutality.
When she produced her specimens of wall
paper the old man brusquely interrupted her
setting forth OF her wishes.
at is no use, madame" 4" he said with great
affectation of regret and earnestness. Il
never sell a picture on so slight grounds as
mere harmony with the paper hanging. So
much depends upon the light that l never
risk my reputation without examining the
room in which the painting is to hang. Did
you bring your house with you! If you
didn't, 1 fear it is impossible for us to come
to an arrangement. "-Arlo Bates in Provi-
dence Journal